November 2020 - BlueBlox

Israel as a Part of the WTO

November 3, 2020 LaetitiaOur Opinion

Everyone around the world knows about Israel and its rich history, both cultural and religious. Although this country is constantly challenged with political and military issues, they have been a member of the WTO since 21 April 1995, and a […]

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New global trade alert system launched to boost market access for developing countries

(Geneva) – A new online alert system designed to help government agencies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) keep track of the latest information on regulatory requirements for international trade was launched today (8 November) by the United... [...]

Equipping TISIs to drive membership and increase revenues

Enhancing the efficiency of Trade and Investment Support Institutions (TISIs) from across East Africa and beyond was the focus of a two-day workshop held by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce,... [...]

Myanmar to launch Kayah State as tourist destination at World Travel Market 2016

(Geneva) – A little-visisted region of Myanmar is to be launched as a new tourist destination at the World Travel Market 2016, an important tourism trade fair, in London between 7 and 9 November. The launch of Kayah State as a tourist destination is... [...]

Asian exporters to gain better access to Chinese market

Exporters in Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Nepal are better positioned to access the Chinese market following training from the International Trade Centre (ITC).A series of training workshops organized in each... [...]

ITC and Expertise France launch EU-funded Libya Entrepreneurship Programme

(Paris, Geneva and Tripoli) – The International Trade Centre (ITC) and Expertise France today launched the Libya Entrepreneurship Programme, which will provide six-week online training courses for young and aspiring entrepreneurs in Libya. The programme... [...]

History is made: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala chosen as Director-General

WTO members made history today (15 February) when the General Council agreed by consensus to select Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria as the organization’s seventh Director-General. [...]

Trade Policy Review: Myanmar

The second review of the trade policies and practices of Myanmar takes place on 15 and 17 February 2021. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Myanmar that were distributed to members on 21 December 2020. [...]

WTO launches “Trading during the COVID-19 pandemic” photo contest

The WTO and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) have launched a photo contest to showcase how world trade is supporting economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The winner will be announced at the WTO Aid for Trade Stocktaking Event to be held online on 23-25 March 2021. All photos must be submitted by 3 March 2021. [...]

New system for applying for trade-related training activities now available online

The WTO launched on 10 February an online portal to allow individuals to apply online for trade-related technical assistance and training activities. The courses are designed to help government officials and others, such as parliamentarians, strengthen their understanding of trade-related issues. [...]

WTO General Council to consider appointment of next Director-General

The WTO’s General Council will hold a special meeting on 15 February at 15:00 Geneva time to consider the appointment of the next Director-General. The meeting will take place in virtual format. [...]

First World Bank Support for COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Africa

Cabo Verde to purchase and deploy vaccines for nearly 200,000 people - about 35% of the population - including the 20% priority populations WASHINGTON, February 11, 2021 — The World Bank approved today an additional financing of $5 million from the International Development Association (IDA) to provide the small island nation of Cabo Verde with affordable and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. This is the first World Bank-financed operation in Africa to support a country’s COVID-19 immunization plan and help with the purchase and distribution of vaccine in alignment with the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) Facility. This additional financing… [...]

La Banque mondiale approuve son premier financement en faveur des campagnes de vaccination contre la COVID-19 en Afrique

Cabo Verde va pouvoir acheter et distribuer des vaccins pour près de 200 000 personnes, soit environ 35 % de sa population, y compris les 20 % prioritaires WASHINGTON, 11 février 2021 — La Banque mondiale a approuvé aujourd’hui un financement supplémentaire de 5 millions de dollars de l’Association internationale de développement (IDA) afin d'assurer au petit État insulaire de Cabo Verde un accès abordable et équitable aux vaccins contre la COVID-19. Il s’agit de la première opération financée par la Banque mondiale en Afrique pour soutenir les plans de vaccination nationaux anti-COVID et contribuer à l’achat et la distribution de vaccins conformément au mécanisme… [...]

Primeiro Apoio do Banco Mundial para Implementação de Vacinas de COVID-19 em África

Cabo Verde vai adquirir e distribuir vacinas para quase 200.000 pessoas – cerca de 35% da população – incluindo os 20% das populações prioritárias WASHINGTON, 11 de Fevereiro 2021 — O Banco Mundial aprovou hoje um financiamento adicional de U$5 milhões da Associação Internacional de Desenvolvimento (AID) para um fornecimento justo e acessível de vacinas da COVID-19 à pequena nação insular de Cabo Verde. Esta é a primeira operação financiada pelo Banco Mundial em África para apoiar o plano de imunização de um país para COVID-19 e auxiliar na compra e distribuição da vacina em linha com a Iniciativa COVAX… [...]

Interview with Dr. Jorge Noel Barreto, the COVID-19 response coordinator in Cabo Verde, “We are very confident that our healthcare workers are well prepared for this immense task”

With its sandy beaches and strategic location off the coast of Western Africa, Cabo Verde enjoys unique opportunities for growth. It has reduced poverty more than any other African nation since 1990. Yet ,the small archipelago’s economy, which is primarily driven by tourism, has been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and GDP is expected to contract by 11% in 2020. Since it was first reported in March 2020, the virus spread quickly but the country reacted swiftly to the pandemic and will be the first African country to receive World Bank financing for its vaccination campaign. To learn more about the logistics and implications of the COVID-19 immunization plan, we spoke with Dr. Jorge Noel Barreto, National Health… [...]

Entretien avec le Dr Jorge Noel Barreto, coordinateur de la lutte contre la COVID-19 à Cabo Verde : « Nous sommes absolument convaincus que nos agents de santé sont bien préparés à cette tâche immense. »

Avec ses plages de sable fin et sa situation stratégique au large de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, Cabo Verde dispose de formidables atouts de croissance économique. C’est le pays africain qui a le plus réduit la pauvreté depuis 1990. Mais l’économie de ce petit archipel, qui est principalement tournée vers le tourisme, a été durement touchée par la pandémie de COVID-19. Depuis le premier signalement en mars 2020, le virus s’est rapidement propagé et Cabo Verde a rapidement pris des mesures pour faire face à la pandémie. Il sera le premier pays africain à bénéficier d’un financement de la Banque mondiale pour… [...]

Statement of Mr. Ferid Belhaj, Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa Region, The World Bank: Launch of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign in Lebanon

As prepared for delivery Your Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Hassan Diab, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Sincere greetings from across the seas. Thank you very much for inviting the World Bank to be part of the launch of Lebanon’s national COVID-19 vaccination campaign. We appreciate the efforts of Lebanese experts and officials in putting together a national vaccination plan in close collaboration with the World Bank, WHO, UNICEF and others. How I regret to be distant from you today, far from Lebanon, this graceful country which is being assailed by the worst crises in its contemporary history, adversities that have… [...]

كلمة السيد فريد بلحاج نائب رئيس البنك الدولي لمنطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا في إطلاق حملة التلقيح ضد فيروس كورونا في لبنان

بالصيغة المعدة للإلقاء دولة الرئيس الدكتور حسان دياب، أصحاب المعالي والسعادة، السيدات والسادة، أيها الحضور الكريم، تحية طيبة و صادقة من وراء البحار. نشكركم على دعوة البنك الدولي للمشاركة في هذا الحدث الهام لإطلاق الحملة الوطنية للتلقيح ضد فيروس كورونا. ونُقدّرُ كل الجهود التي بُذِلَت من قِبَلِ الخبراء اللبنانيين والجهات الرسمية لبلورة هذه الحملة الوطنية، بالتعاون الوثيق مع البنك الدولي ومنظمة الصحة العالمية واليونيسيف والهيئات المعنية الأخرى. كم يؤسفني أن أكون بعيداً عنكم اليوم، بعيداً عن لبنان، هذا البلد الأمين، الذي نراهُ يعاني أسوأ الأزمات في تاريخه المعاصر، وأشدَّها حدّةً وتأثيراً على شعبهِ النبيل. لن أنسى السنوات التي أمضيتها في… [...]

World Bank and IFRC Support Independent Monitoring of COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign in Lebanon

BEIRUT, February 12, 2021 — The World Bank and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have signed today an agreement for the independent monitoring of Lebanon’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Under this agreement, IFRC acting as the Third Party Monitoring Agency (TPMA), will be in charge of independently monitoring the compliance of the vaccination deployment with national plans, international standards and World Bank requirements in order to ensure safe handling of the vaccines, as well as fair and equitable access to all. According to the agreement, IFRC’s oversight and supervision will cover COVID-19 vaccine supply chain… [...]

البنك الدولي والاتحاد الدولي لجمعيات الصليب الأحمر والهلال الأحمر يدعمان الرصد المستقل لحملة التلقيح ضد فيروس كورونا في لبنان

بيروت، 12 فبراير/شباط، 2021 - وقّع البنك الدولي والاتحاد الدولي للصليب الأحمر والهلال الأحمر (الاتحاد الدولي) اليوم اتفاقية للقيام على نحو مستقل بمتابعة ورصد حملة التلقيح ضد فيروس كورونا (كوفيد-19) في لبنان. وبموجب هذه الاتفاقية، فإن الاتحاد الدولي، الذي يؤدي دور الجهة المستقلة للرصد، سيكون مسؤولاً عن متابعة مدى التزام عملية التلقيح بالخطط الوطنية والمعايير الدولية ومتطلبات البنك الدولي، وذلك حرصاً على التعامل مع اللقاحات بطريقة آمنة وسليمة، وكذلك توفيرها للجميع على نحو منصف وعادل.ووفقا لما جاء في هذه الاتفاقية، فإن أعمال المتابعة والرصد التي سيقوم بها الاتحاد الدولي ستغطي إدارة سلسلة توريد لقاحات كورونا، وكذلك إدارة اللقاحات في الأماكن… [...]

Monitoring the Impact of COVID-19 on Households in Djibouti Through High Frequency Phone Surveys

Djibouti had its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 18, 2020. The government suspended all inbound and outbound international passenger flights the same day, closed schools and universities, and ordered a general lockdown, which started on March 27. It started to lift these restrictions incrementally on May 11. As elsewhere in the world, these measures are likely to have affected household welfare through job loss, a decline in non-labor income, price shocks, the unavailability of basic items, and the disruption of services. Alleviating their impact is vital to preventing poverty from increasing; in 2017, about 2 in 10 Djiboutians… [...]